Tensa: A man was trampled to death by a tusker at Sankhapada village under Malda gram panchayat of Koida forest range in Sundargarh district Friday evening. He was identified as Damodar Naik.
This spread resentment among villagers. The villagers then alerted the forest department officials, but no one arrived. Later, irate villagers drove away the wild herd from forest near the village.
Sources said, the incident occurred while Damodar was returning home after selling vegetables in the local market. He came face to face with the tusker herd that had strayed into a forest near the village.
A tusker lifted him while he was trying to escape and battered him to the ground. Later, it trampled him. Hearing his screams, locals rushed to the spot and made noises after which the herd strayed into the forest.
Naik was then rushed to Koida community health centre (CHC). However, doctors declared him brought dead.
According to villagers, a tusker herd comprising 10-12 tuskers has been wreaking havoc in the village for last 10 days. The herd often strays into paddy fields and feeds on standing crop. They tuskers stray into the village during night and damage houses.
Earlier, the villagers had alerted the forest officials. But, no steps were taken to drive the wild herd.
“It is due to the negligence of forest officials that our friend lost his life. The forest officials are responsible for his death. We demand necessary compensation for his family,” a kin of the deceased said.
When contacted, Bonai DFO Sudhanshu Shekhar Khora said a special team was formed to drive the herd. Our staff were patrolling the other side of the forest when the incident occurred, he added.
However, the villagers claimed no forest officials have reached the village to take stock of the situation.
Jumbos return, cause mayhem
Jhumpura: After a brief hiatus, a herd of 30 elephants were headed towards habitations in Champua range in Keonjhar. Two elephants damaged crops in Malda panchayat Friday night.
The animals were holed up in Kaliapal forest in the day time and come out to villages at night. PIC
Farmers like Mohant Mohant, Gopal Munda, Madhu Munda, Mangal Munda, Samu Munda, benu Nayak, Pathani Nayak, Srikant Nayak, Sukadev Nayak, Bida Nayak, Gamha Nayak tokk up the issue with forest officials at Bamebari area.
The animals have taken away the sleep of the farmers with crops in large tracts of farmland being eaten and destroyed every day. Locals alleged that forest officials have failed to scare away the animals.
They lamented that the forest department has not provided them crackers to scare away the animals.
Bamebari forest Jatindra Sahu said that efforts were on to drive away the animals while the affected farmers will receive compensation.
PNN